THROMBOMODULIN LEVELS IN PREECLAMPSIA, GESTATIONAL HYPERTENSION, AND CHRONIC HYPERTENSION

Objective: To measure the circulating levels of thrombomodulin in women with preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and chronic hypertension. Methods: Serum levels of thrombomodulin were measured in 34 women with preeclampsia, 15 with gestational hypertension, 11 with chronic hypertension, and 34 normotensive pregnant women in the third trimester. Preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and chronic hypertension were defined by ACOG criteria. Soluble thrombomodulin antigen was measured by a two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Mean (+/- standard error) serum thrombomodulin levels were significantly higher in patients with preeclampsia (69.7 +/- 6.3 ng/mL) than in those with gestational hypertension (46.0 +/- 3.2 ng/mL) or chronic hypertension (46.2 +/- 3.3 ng/mL), and normotensive controls (50.1 +/- 3.1 ng/mL). There were no significant differences among the gestational hypertension, chronic hypertension, and normotensive control groups. Conclusion: Thrombomodulin may serve as a clinically meaningful marker to differentiate preeclampsia from other forms of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.